JPS62297527A - Spherical joint also functioning as mechanical interlock - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] 3. [Detailed description of the invention] Retired Emperor and Separate Emperor The present invention relates to ball and socket joints.

In particular, one invention relates to a spherical hand with an elastomeric material interposed between a socket and a ball stud.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Spherical grips are known and are commonly used between load transmitting members that move relative to each other. A typical spherical hand is a ball stud connected to one load transmission member.

and a socket connected to the other load transmission member. The ball stud includes a ball portion disposed within a chamber defined by a socket. A support device is formed between the ball portion of the ball stud and the socket to transmit forces and permit relative movement between the ball stud and the socket.

Examples of known spherical hands include US Pat. No. 2,979,353, US Pat. No. 3,843,272, and US Pat. The spherical hand shown in this patent has an elastomeric support material interposed between the ball portion of the ball stud and the socket.

An elastomeric material is interposed between the ball stud and socket to resiliently interconnect the ball stud and socket. The elastomeric material deforms elastically during relative movement of the ball stud and socket. Because the elastomeric material is elastic, it urges the ball stud and socket to their initial relative position when the ball stud and socket are moved from their initial relative position.

In this construction, the elastomeric material is bonded to the ball portion of the ball stud by the required adhesive and the elastomeric material is bonded to the ball portion of the ball stud. lt
prevent Additionally, the elastomeric material is bonded to the socket to prevent the elastomeric material from sliding against the socket. This technique is described in US Pat. No. 3,843,272. However, this bonding process is relatively expensive and must be monitored to obtain the desired adhesion.

Another technique for preventing slippage of the elastomeric material relative to the socket is to apply a required compression or preload to the elastomeric material between the ball portion and the socket. This causes the elastomer material to wedge tightly into the face of the socket. This technique creates a problem called overtorque hysteresis. That is, compression creates large internal stresses within the elastomeric material.

Internal stress changes when the ball stud and socket move relative to each other. When the force that caused the relative movement of the ball stud and socket is removed, the elastomeric material does not return to its initial position because the internal stresses are different than during assembly. Therefore, the ball stud and socket may not return to their initial relative positions.

The present invention relates to a spherical hand in which an elastomer material is inserted between a socket and a ball stud. According to the present invention,
Gluing the elastomeric material between the ball portion of the ball stud and the socket becomes unnecessary. The present invention thus eliminates the problems associated with adhesion. Furthermore, the elastomeric material does not compress during assembly between the ball portion and the socket.

Thus, the present invention minimizes the problem of excessive torque hysteresis associated with preloading of elastomeric materials.

The spherical hand of the present invention has a mechanical interlock between the ball portion of the ball stud and the elastomeric material.

That is, the ball portion has circumferentially spaced recesses.

The elastomeric material embeds the ball portion and protrudes into and fills the recess. This mechanically interlocks the ball stud to the elastomeric material and prevents the elastomeric material from sliding against the ball stud.

Another feature of the invention mechanically interlocks the elastomeric material to the socket. The ball stud projects through an oblong opening in the socket. The ball stud is limited to rocking along the axis of the opening and rotation about the axis of the ball stud. The elastomeric material has a band portion of relatively uniform thickness to attach between the socket and the ball stud. A space defined by the socket engages a portion of the elastomeric material in a circumferential position relative to the band portion, preventing slippage of the elastomeric material relative to the socket.

According to embodiments of the invention, the elastomeric material is configured with different hardnesses. An elastically deformable layer having a relatively low hardness is between the socket and the ball and elastically interconnects the ball stud and the socket. A relatively hard portion protrudes from the elastically deformable layer to mechanically interlock with the ball stud and/or socket.

Embodiments and drawings illustrating the present invention will be described.

The present invention relates to a spherical hand with an elastomeric material interposed between a socket and a ball stud. Although various configurations of the present invention are possible, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the spherical joint 20 connects the load transmitting members so that they can move relative to each other. Ball surface hand 20
A typical use is as a chassis connection for various parts of an automobile.

The spherical hand 20 has a socket 22 and a ball stud 24. Socket 22 connects to one load transfer member. Ball stud 24 connects to the other load transfer member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the socket has an upper member 32 and a lower member 34. Upper member 32 and lower member 34 are stamped from sheet metal. Upper member 32 has a spherical portion 36 and an aperture 38 . Upper member 32 has four portions 42 extending radially outwardly from spherical portion 36 as shown in FIG. 1 to define an interior space 44 as shown in FIG. part 4
2 further extends upwardly from the bulbous portion 36 as shown in FIG. Lower member 34 has a spherical portion 46 . The spherical portion 36 of the upper member 32 and the space 44 combine with the spherical portion 46 of the lower member to form the chamber 5o.

The ball stud 24 is a steel forging, and the ball portion 5
2 and a shank portion 54 extending therefrom.

The ball portion 52 is within the chamber 50. The ball portion 52 has an equatorial line 53 extending around the outer circumference of the ball portion in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ball stud. A shank portion 54 extends outwardly through the aperture 38.

The fifteenth opening 38 has an oval shape. Dimension A of opening 38 is greater than dimension B. Dimension B of opening 38 is greater than the diameter of shank portion 54. Dimension A is significantly larger than the diameter of the shank portion 54 of the ball stud. Thus, shank portion 54 is limited to movement only along dimension A. As shank portion 54 reciprocates within path 56 along dimension A, ball portion 52 pivots relative to socket 22.

Upper member 32 and lower member 34 are connected by a crimp edge. That is, the lower member 34 has a portion 62 shown in FIG.
and is crimped onto the flange 66 of the top member 32. An opening 68 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in the socket 22, and a bolt or rivet is engaged to attach the socket to the vehicle chassis.
Connect to.

An elastomeric material 72, shown in FIG. 2, is inserted between socket 22 and ball stud 24. The specific composition of elastomeric materials is known and includes, for example, the materials described in the above-mentioned US patents. Generally speaking, elastomer refers to any rubber or rubber-like material. Including artificial rubber, natural rubber, neorene, butyl rubber, etc.

During manufacturing, ball stud 24 and socket 22 are held in a predetermined relationship within the required tooling. Elastomer material 7
2 is injected into the chamber 50 in liquid form. Elastomer material 72
surrounds the ball portion 52. Elastomeric material 72 has a resilient layer 76 and a portion 78 that projects into space 44 . Elastomeric material 72 further has a portion 74 extending along shank portion 54 by a certain dimension to form a seal.

A resilient layer 76 of elastomeric material 72 resiliently interconnects socket 22 to ball stud 24. As ball stud 24 swings relative to the socket along dimension A of opening 38 in FIG. 1, a portion of elastic layer 76 shown in FIG. 2 is compressed between ball stud 24 and socket 22. . When the elastic layer 76 is compressed, an internal force is generated and acts on the ball stud 24, forcing the ball stud 24 into the socket 2.
2, it tends to return to the initial position.

Resilient layer 76 has a relatively uniform thickness band portion 77 that surrounds a relatively large area of ball portion 52 .

Band portion 77 is loaded during rocking of ball stud 24 and responds to loading equally in all directions because of its relatively uniform thickness. Band portion 77 surrounds equator 53 and extends longitudinally from the equator along ball portion 52 by a dimension in both directions. A portion 74 of the elastic layer 76 near the opening 38 and a portion opposite the opening 38 have a different thickness than the band portion 77 .

The protruding portion 78 shown in FIG. 13 is located circumferentially relative to the band portion 77 and extends into the space 44.

This mechanically interlocks the elastomeric material 72 to the socket 22 to prevent slippage of the elastomeric material relative to the socket. By preventing slippage of the elastomeric material 72 relative to the socket 22, the elastic layer 76 exerts approximately the same force around the ball stud 24 for all directions of relative movement between the socket 22 and the ball stud 24. Return to initial position. The elastic load 1i76 occurs primarily in the direction along dimension A of the oblong slot 38 shown in FIG.

Space 44 is within the least loaded portion. The protruding portions 42 are spaced laterally outwardly of the pivoting path 56 of the shank portion 54. This prevents the protruding portion 78 from becoming compressed upon rocking of the shank portion.

The spherical hand shown in FIG. 12 has circumferential portions A, B, and C. The vertical load on the spherical hand occurs mostly in section B. The lateral load on the spherical hand occurs mainly on the part.

The minimum load occurs in section C. Thus, the volume 44 containing the protruding portion 78 is located within portion C.

In a preferred example, the protruding portion 78 shown in FIG.
It is made of a material with a relatively higher hardness value. This allows the protruding portion 78 to have greater resistance to compression;
The problem of excessive torque hysteresis is avoided. The elastic layer 76 and raised portions 78 shown in FIG. 13 are preferably formed from separate elastomer compositions.

Both materials are mixed together during injection manufacturing to form a transition portion 82 between the materials. Although this transition portion 82 is relatively thin, it prevents the formation of shear stresses that would otherwise occur at the separation line where there was no intermixing between the materials.

The material with high hardness forming the protruding portion 78 is the spherical grip 20.
It is a good mechanical interlock to resist compression during operation. The position of the protruding portion 78 shown in FIG.
This is the same position as the protruding portion 78 shown in FIG. Therefore,
The relative hardness of the protruding portion 78 resists compression during actuation of the spherical hand 20, and this position places minimal stress on the protruding portion.

The spherical grip 102 shown in FIG. 3 is used to connect members of a vehicle steering link for relative movement. The spherical hand 102 is a socket 112. It has a ball stud 114 with an elastomeric material 116 interposed therebetween.

The socket 112 is connected to the housing 122. It has a cover 124. The cover 122 contacts and engages a shoulder 126 formed in an annular shape on the socket housing 122 . As is known, edge 128 of socket housing 122 is rolled over a portion of cover 124 to secure the cover to the socket housing. Housing 122 defines a circular opening 130 on the side opposite cover 122 . Housing 122 and cover 124 define a chamber 156.

Ball stud 114 has a ball portion 132 and a shank portion 134. As shown in Figure 4, the ball part!
32 forms a plurality of recesses 142 spaced apart around the circumference of the ball portion 132. Ball portion 132 is mounted within chamber 156 and is rotatable relative to socket 112. A shank portion 134 extends through the aperture 130.

A portion 152 of elastomeric material 116 has a plurality of recesses 14
2 by extending the elastomeric material into the ball stud 11
4 mechanically interlocked. Elastomer material 1
A mechanical interlock between ball portion 132 of ball stud 114 prevents the elastomeric material from slipping relative to the ball stud. Elastomer material 1
16 has a relatively resilient layer 154 that contacts a chamber 156 defined by socket housing 122 . Elasticity N154 resiliently interconnects ball stud 114 to socket 112. Portion 152 of elastomeric material that projects into recess 142 has a higher hardness than elastic layer 154 and is similar to protrusion 78 described above.

The spherical hand 202 shown in FIG. Ball stud 214. It has an elastomer material N 216 and a cover 218 . Spherical hand 202 is similar to single spherical hand 102, providing a mechanical interlock between the elastomeric material 2 and the ball stud 214 as shown in FIG. The spherical hand 202 further includes an elastomeric material 216.
and the socket housing 212 and between the elastomeric material and the cover 218.

The cover has an opening 232. FIG. 7.8.9 shows an exemplary shape of the opening 232 in the cover 218. Portion 244 of elastomeric material 216 shown in FIG.
2 to mechanically interlock the elastomeric layer to the cover 218. The mechanical interlock prevents the elastomeric layer from sliding against the cover 218.

The socket housing 212 has a plurality of spaces 234 shown in FIG. 6 arranged on the inner circumferential surface defined by the socket housing. Space 234 receives a portion of elastomeric material 216 to interlock the elastomeric material to socket 212. The mechanical interlock prevents elastomeric material 216 from slipping relative to socket 212. The space 234 is located within the socket and the ball stud 214
radially coincident with respective protrusions 236 extending from.

Portion 244 of elastomeric material extending into opening 232 and space 234 is made of a harder material than elastic layer 242. The relative hardness of portion 244 prevents preloading or compression during actuation or assembly of spherical hand 202. Thus, by utilizing one mechanical interlocking feature, problems of adhesion of the elastomeric material to the socket, and problems of excessive torque hysteresis can be avoided.

10 and 11 show other embodiments of the invention. Spherical hand 252 has other mechanical interlocking features within cover 254. The cover 254 has a base 264 inside the cover.
It has a plurality of portions 262 defining a . Portion 274 of elastomeric material 272 extends into space 264 to interlock the elastomeric material with the cover. The extension 274 within the space 264 of elastomeric material has a higher hardness than the resilient layer of elastomeric material interposed between the socket 282 and the ball stud 284 and is similar to the spherical hand 202 described above.

As mentioned above, several embodiments of the spherical hand of the present invention have been described. In some embodiments, the spherical hand 2 shown in FIG.
02 interlock device has an elastomeric material 216 attached to the socket housing 212. Ball stud 214. Mechanically interlocks with cover 218. Elastomeric material 216 has a resilient layer 242 that resiliently interconnects socket housing 212 to ball stud 214. The elastomeric material 216 further includes the ball stud 21
4, socket housing 212 (FIG. 6), and a portion 244 that projects into the space defined by opening 232 (FIG. 5). The material for manufacturing the protrusion 244 is the elastic layer 2
The material has a hardness greater than 42 mm and resists compression.

Protrusion 244 mechanically interlocks elastomeric material 216 to socket housing 212 . Prevents slipping of the elastomeric material against the ball stud 214 and cover 218. As a variation of the invention, it is easy to combine the mechanical interlocks of the embodiments described above with or without the use of high hardness materials.

The invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments. The present invention can be easily modified in various ways, and the embodiments and drawings are illustrative and do not limit the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the spherical hand according to the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a spherical hand according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in the figure.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a spherical hand according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5; FIG. 7-9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. Bottom view of a modified example of the spherical hand,
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a spherical hand according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the spherical hand in Fig. 10, Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the load range of the spherical hand such as the spherical hand in Fig. 1.2,
FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of a spherical hand showing another feature of the present invention. 20, 102.202.252. , ball surface hand 22, 1
12,212,282. , socket 24, 114, 2
14,284. , ball stud 326. Upper part 3
4. , lower part 380. Opening 421. Projection 523
．． Ball part 548. Shank portion 501. Room 53
1. Equator 72.116, 216, 272. , elastomer material 7
6, 154, 242. , elastic layer 78.152, 244, 274. , protrusion (91 ships ≦ Reno

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A ball and socket joint for connecting load transmission members for relative rotational movement, comprising: a socket connected to one member and having a surface defining a chamber and an opening; a ball stud connected to the member and having a ball portion and a shank portion extending therefrom, the ball portion being disposed within the chamber, the shank portion extending from the opening so as to be rotatable; an elastically deformable elastomeric material including a surface defining a recess and mounted between the socket and the ball portion of the ball stud to resiliently interconnect the ball stud to the socket and urge the ball stud to an initial position relative to the socket; A spherical hand comprising: wherein the elastomeric material has at least one portion protruding into a recess in the ball portion to mechanically interlock the elastomeric material to a ball stud. 2. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the ball stud has a plurality of spaced apart recesses surrounding the outer periphery of the ball stud, and the portion of the elastomeric material projects into the recesses. . 3. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein the elastomeric material protrudes into a space defined by a chamber in the socket to mechanically interlock the elastomeric material to the socket. A spherical hand that includes other parts to prevent slipping against the socket. 4. The joint according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the elastomeric material protruding into the space between the recess of the ball portion and the socket is a spherical surface having a higher hardness than other portions of the elastomeric material. Joint. 5. A ball and socket joint for connecting load transmission members for relative rotational movement, the socket having a surface connected to one member and defining a chamber and an oval opening, and connected to the other member. a ball stud having a ball portion and a shank portion extending therefrom, the ball portion being disposed within the chamber, the shank portion extending from the oval opening, and the shank portion extending longitudinally of the oval opening of the socket. an elastically deformable elastomer layer movable in an exemplary path and adhered to the ball portion to elastically interconnect the ball stud to the socket and urge the ball stud to an initial position relative to the socket; a portion projecting into the space defined by the socket to mechanically interlock the elastomer layer to the socket to prevent slippage of the elastomer layer relative to the socket, the space defined by the socket being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shank; A spherical hand characterized by a space spaced laterally from a path of motion along. 6. A spherical joint according to claim 5, wherein the portion of the elastomeric layer extending into the space defined by the socket has a higher hardness than the other portion of the elastomeric material. 7. A ball and socket joint for connecting load transmitting members for relative rotational movement, comprising: a socket connected to one member and having a surface defining a chamber and an opening; and a ball portion connected to the other member. and a ball stud having a shank portion extending therefrom, the ball portion being disposed within the chamber, the shank portion extending from the opening, and the ball stud being mounted between the socket and the ball portion of the ball stud and resiliently extending therefrom. an elastically deformable elastomeric layer interconnecting the ball stud to the socket to urge the ball stud into an initial position relative to the socket, and a cover coupled to the socket, the cover receiving a portion of the elastomer layer and applying the elastomer layer to the cover. A spherical hand characterized by having an interlock device that mechanically interlocks. 8. A spherical joint according to claim 7, wherein the interlocking device is a surface of a cover defining at least one space from which an elastomer layer projects. 9. A spherical joint according to claim 7, wherein the interlocking device is a surface of a cover defining an opening through which an elastomer layer projects. 10. The joint according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the cover defines a circular opening. 11. The joint according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the cover defines an X-shaped opening. 12. A spherical joint according to claim 7, wherein the interlocking device is a surface of a cover defining at least one aperture through which the elastomeric layer protrudes. 13. The device of claim 7, wherein the elastomeric layer has a portion projecting into the space defined by the chamber and the space defined by the ball portion, the elastomeric layer being socketed. and a spherical hand that mechanically interlocks with the ball stud to prevent movement of the elastomer layer relative to the socket and ball stud. 14. The joint according to claim 13,
A spherical hand in which the portion of the elastomeric layer that protrudes into the space and engages within the interlocking device has a relatively higher hardness than other portions of the elastomeric layer. 15. A spherical joint according to claim 7, wherein the portion of the elastomer layer that engages within the interlock device has a relatively higher hardness than other portions of the elastomer layer. 16. A ball and socket joint comprising: a socket member having a surface defining a chamber and an opening communicating with the chamber; and a ball stud member having a ball portion and a shank portion extending from the ball portion; an elastomeric material having a resilient portion disposed within the chamber, the shank portion extending through the opening, and a resilient portion disposed between the socket member and the ball member to resiliently interconnect the ball stud member within the socket member; an interlock device formed in one member to receive the other portion of the elastomeric material to mechanically interlock the elastomeric material to the one member, the portion of the elastomeric material engaging within the interlock device; A spherical hand characterized by having a higher hardness than the elastic portion. 17. The joint according to claim 16,
A spherical hand in which the interlocking device is a recess in the socket member defined by the face of the socket. 18. The joint according to claim 16,
A spherical hand in which the interlocking device is a recess in the ball portion defined by a surface of the ball portion. 19. The joint according to claim 16,
A spherical hand in which the less elastic portion of the elastomeric material and the remainder of the elastomeric material are joined by a transition zone that is a mixture of elastic portions and higher hardness portions. 20. A ball and socket joint for connecting load transmission members for relative rotational movement, comprising: a socket connected to one member and having a surface defining a chamber and an opening; and a ball portion connected to the other member. and a ball stud having a shank portion extending therefrom, the ball portion being disposed within the chamber, the shank portion extending from the opening so as to be pivotable, the ball portion having a shank portion extending therefrom, the ball stud having a shank portion extending therefrom, the ball portion having a shank portion extending from the opening, and a ball stud having a shank portion extending therefrom. a band portion of relatively uniform thickness extending a length along the ball portion in both directions from said plane; an elastically deformable elastomeric material disposed to resiliently interconnect the ball stud and socket to urge the ball stud to an initial position relative to the socket; and at least a portion of the elastomeric material spaced circumferentially from the receiving band portion. and an interlock device for mechanically interlocking the elastomeric material with the socket to prevent slippage of the elastomeric material relative to the socket. 21. The joint according to claim 20,
A spherical grip in which the portion of the elastomeric material that engages within the interlock device has a higher hardness than the remainder of the elastomeric material.